The actor, who hasn’t been on-screen in over a year, just boarded the action sequel, joining franchise regulars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne Johnson. With his specific role being kept under lock-and-key alongside the rest of the plot details, the next installment in the street-racing-turn-caper thriller seems to be picking up speed.

Here’s what is public knowledge so far: Diesel and his crew will return to Los Angeles, after traveling to South America in the last two films. Expendables star Jason Statham is set to play the villain, and Chris Morgan is writing the script.

The popular character actor is about to step back into the limelight, as he has a host of upcoming films in the bag. Baggage Claim, starring Paula Patton will hit theaters later this month, followed by the fantasy-adventure pic The Seventh Son, Mark Neveldine’s The Vatican Tapes, and How to Train Your Dragon 2 all will hit in 2014. Hounsou will kick off the next year with the space age actioner, Guardians of the Galaxy, where he will play Korath the Pursuer.

Hounsou will join fellow newcomers Ronda Rousey, Tony Jaa, and Kurt Russell. Production on the film has already kicked off, as Universal will release Fast & Furious 7 on July 11, 2014.